Ministry Of Foreign Affairs: Government Monitors And Verifies Information On The Movement Of Gazans Associated With Indonesia

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ensures that the Government continues to monitor and verify any information regarding the movement of Gaza Strip residents, Palestine, which is linked to Indonesia.

This was conveyed by Spokesperson I of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yvonne Mewengang, following reports from foreign media regarding flights carrying Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, with Indonesia being named as one of the destination countries.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is verifying the information circulating and coordinating with related parties to ensure there is no misuse of the visa process," Yvonne told VOI.id, Monday, November 17.

"Indonesia does not have a policy of accepting Gaza refugees through visas or charter flights," Spokesperson I of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized.

As previously reported, a flight carrying 153 Palestinians from Gaza landed at OR Tambo International Airport, South Africa on Thursday last week.

South African activists found irregularities in travel regulated by an organization called the Al-Majd Europe. In fact, some Palestinians are said to have no idea where they are going, while there are no official documents and the South African Government is not aware of their planned arrival.

Activist Sarah Oosthuizen who is a member of the group that accompanies Palestinians in Johanesburg told Middle East Eye passenger boarding passes showed various destinations, from India to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Last Friday, South African President South African Cyril Ramaphosa described the refugees as "people from Gaza who were mysteriously transported by plane".

"We certainly need to investigate their origin, where it all started, the reason why they were brought here is because they don't have any documents," he explained.

Noting that the cross-border movement of Gazans or Palestinians is under the authority of local authorities, Yvonne ensures that the government monitors information on the movement of Gazans linked to Indonesia.

"In principle, any cross-border movement of Gazans or Palestinians is the authority of local authorities and can only occur if it is approved by related parties in the field," said Yvonne.

"The government continues to monitor and verify any information on the movement of Gazans linked to Indonesia," he said.

Yvonne himself emphasized that Indonesia rejects all forms of forced transfer of Palestinians, ensuring that the government has never facilitated their transfer to the country.

Yvonne explained, as not a country for the 1851 Refugee Convention, Indonesia has no obligation to accept refugees from abroad.

"The handling of refugees in Indonesia is carried out in accordance with Presidential Decree 125/2016 (regarding the Handling of Refugees from Overseas), namely for refugees in emergency and temporary conditions, and is always coordinated with UNHCR (BP Refugee Agency) and IOM (International Organization for Migration)," he explained.

"Indonesia does not regulate or facilitate the departure of refugees from their home countries," said Yvonne.